When I got to the hospital, Peter’s family had already taken the settlement money and didn’t dare confront Beckett and his crew.
They just pointed at me, screaming “homewrecker” and “shameless,” shoving and hitting me.
Cassian pulled them off while Beckett stood there with his arms crossed, smirking smugly.
Like he was waiting for me to grovel with gratitude.
But I just stared at them coldly.
Fighting every urge to launch myself at them and tear them apart.
From then on, my classmates lumped me in with those spoiled brats–disgusted by me but too scared to say anything.
I didn’t belong to their class, and my own class had rejected me.
My “ingratitude” made Beckett and Cassian treat me even worse.
And Alaric?
He was busy doting on Delilah, completely oblivious to everything else.
Until my mother was dying, and I ran through the rain to crash their glittering gala, desperate to find Alaric for help.
Outside the VIP lounge, I could see Alaric bent over, tying the ribbon on Delilah’s gown.
The girl’s sweet voice carried that naive “innocence” and curiosity:
“Alaric, people say you and Selene were childhood sweethearts… were you two really close before?”
My heart was pounding from running, wet hair plastered to my forehead, and I stared at Alaric intently.
His voice was casual, laced with contempt:
“Childhood sweethearts? She’s nothing but a nanny.”
My heart felt like it had been sledgehammered. My vision blurred as rainwater streamed down my face.
The phone rang.
It was the hospital. My mother had stopped breathing. She was gone.
The ringtone startled them both–they saw me. Delilah jumped.
Alaric stared at me in shock, his lips moving like he wanted to say something.
I looked at him and forced my mouth into a smile.
I hadn’t smiled in so long. This was the last time I’d smile for him.
“Alaric, my mother is dead.”
Then I turned and walked away, ignoring whatever explanations they might have offered, dragging my heavy feet like a zombie.
Two months later, I returned to school.
Like a walking corpse.
16.7%
Chapter 4
Everything was the same. Delilah pretended nothing had happened and asked how I was doing.
Alaric’s lips trembled: “Are you… okay?”
My face was completely expressionless. “I’m fine, thank you for your concern, Mr. Everhart.”
I glanced at my seat–empty. Peter had transferred schools.
Beckett just tossed his homework on my desk.
I didn’t say a word. Just grabbed the papers, pulled out my phone, and held up my Venmo QR code.
“Master Langdon, homework writing service is two hundred per person, per day.”
Beckett frowned, then turned to the other three with exaggerated amazement: “Listen to this–Selene’s charging us now.”
I sat perfectly still, ignoring their mockery and taunts.
Alaric frowned slightly. “Selene, what’s happened to you? Are you really that desperate for money?”
Cassian sneered: “Doesn’t her dad make hundreds of thousands a year at your family’s company? Don’t you guys pay for everything? And she has the
nerve to ask us for money?”
Delilah bit her lip. “Beckett… you guys should stop making her do your homework. If she doesn’t want to help, just let it go.”
Beckett gave a cold laugh, voice dripping with sarcasm: “Aren’t classmates supposed to help each other? If you don’t want to help, just say so.”
I lit up my phone screen again: “Sorry, young masters, but even servants need to be paid.”
Beckett’s face darkened as he transferred several thousand dollars to me.
Then he gathered all their assignments and slammed them down in front of me.
“You want money? Fine. Do all of it. Make one mistake and you’ll regret it.”
I lowered my eyes, picked up my pen, and said nothing.
I just started writing.
And I kept writing until today.
